Pileated Woodpecker

(Dryocopus pileatus)

Where: Richmond, VA • Bryan Park

Notes: I have seen this species of woodpecker pounding away on fallen trees at ground level before where the wood is wet and soft. Often the bird has been so enthralled in chipping away at the wood looking for grubs and insects it pays much less attention to its surroundings than usual. There seems to be ample food in these ground level buffets. Such a distraction can sometimes allow a fairly close approach, as it did this time.

When someone spotted this bird and pointed it out to me, I had not noticed it so close to the ground. I used the small tree between me and the bird to block its line of sight. I moved in slowly, watching its movements for signs of alert. Once at the tree, I leaned against its trunk to stabilize my camera. This magnificent eighteen inch tall bird hammered away at the stump. It would peck three or four times at the wood and the chips would fly. Then it would raise it's head for a very quick glance around, this is when I would take a few shots with my camera. Often these glances were upward toward the sky. Each time she quickly returned to digging for more food, until finally she few off.